Method for purifying marine collagen and the processing thereof into porous sponges

Abstract

Methods are provided for purifying marine collagen and for processing the collagen into porous sponges. Products produced with these methods and the use of the products are also provided.

1. A marine collagen purified in accordance with a method comprising the steps:
 adjusting a moisture content of a collagen precipitate, which has been precipitated in an acid medium, to 70 to 95% by weight; 
 suspending the precipitated collagen in a first aqueous H 2 O 2  solution; 
 solubilizing the suspended collagen by adjusting a pH of the collagen suspension to a value of from 11 to 13; 
 reprecipitating the suspended collagen with an organic, water-miscible solvent; 
 filtering off of the reprecipitated collagen; 
 adjusting a moisture content of the reprecipitated collagen to 70 to 95% by weight; 
 resuspending the reprecipitated collagen in a second aqueous H 2 O 2  solution; and 
 adjusting the pH of the resuspended collagen to a value of from 5 to 7. 
 
     
     
       2. A porous sponge produced from the marine collagen of  claim 1 , wherein the porous sponge is produced in accordance with a production method comprising the steps:
 foaming a solution of the marine collagen or degassing the solution of the marine collagen in vacuo; 
 optionally placing the solution of the marine collagen in a mold; 
 deep-freezing the foamed or degassed collagen solution, thereby forming a collagen sponge; and 
 lyophilizing the collagen sponge. 
 
     
     
       3. The porous sponge according to  claim 2 , wherein the solution has a collagen content of 0.5 to 5% by weight. 
     
     
       4. The porous sponge according to  claim 2 , further comprising an antimicrobially active substance in the sponge. 
     
     
       5. The porous sponge according to  claim 4 , wherein the antimicrobially active substance is present in an amount of about 1% by weight, relative to the collagen content of the sponge. 
     
     
       6. The porous sponge according to  claim 4 , wherein the antimicrobially active substance comprises silver sulfadiazine. 
     
     
       7. The porous sponge according to  claim 2 , wherein the production method further comprises treating the collagen sponge, subsequent to the lyophilization thereof, with an inorganic acid, and thereafter washing out the collagen sponge with water until there is no longer any acid detectable. 
     
     
       8. The porous sponge according to  claim 7 , wherein the inorganic acid is an approximately 0.1 N HCl solution. 
     
     
       9. The porous sponge according to  claim 2 , having a form of a medical product.